As a result of the current pandemic, there have been significant and sudden changes to our daily lives and routines. There is a fair bit of panic coupled with genuine concerns as our federal, state and local governments take actions deemed necessary to protect the safety of our nation and slow the spread of the disease.
There is a common misconception that it is “the norm” to receive spousal support for “life.” This belief likely stems from a misunderstanding of the common language used when defining spousal support.
I can’t tell you how many times I have been at the filing window at court only to hear a pro per litigant (legalese for self-represented) say something to the effect “It was so easy to get married, but getting divorced is so hard and is taking years!”
California divorce laws too often present the parties with “long-term contracts” where the parties only learn the terms of the contract when they try to terminate the contract. The laws relating to the marital relationship impose significant “agreements” by default and most people getting married have no idea what they are signing up for.